Next-gen Ford Explorer will bring 1,200 new jobs to Chicago

In a bit of good news, always welcomed in today's battered automotive sector, Ford has announced it will add 1,200 jobs to the Chicago area when it moves production of the all-new 2011 Ford Explorer to its underutilized Illinois plant. The announcement is not a surprise – the plans have been in place for about a year – as the automaker has spent around $400 million retrofitting the plant in anticipation of the upcoming SUV's arrival. Experts say the Chicago plant will likely have to add a second shift to accommodate the Explorer production.

The Chicago plant has been making the redesigned Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS since last year. The 2011 Ford Explorer, redesigned on a smaller and more fuel-efficient car unibody platform, is anticipated to arrive in dealers in August or September and will likely be the plant's highest-volume vehicle. Thanks for the tip, Leonard!

Ford will produce the next-generation Explorer SUV at its Chicago Assembly Plant beginning in the fourth quarter of this year, bringing approximately 1,200 new jobs to the Chicago region

Ford will invest nearly $400 million in its Chicago Assembly and Chicago Stamping plants to launch production of the Explorer

The next-generation Explorer will feature significant fuel economy gains of at least 25 percent over the current-model Explorer thanks to EcoBoost engine technology, six-speed transmissions and a unibody construction

Ford has sold more than 6 million Explorers since the vehicle was originally launched in 1990; Explorer has been America's best-selling midsize SUV for 15 of the past 19 years

CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2010 – Ford Motor Company today announced it will produce the next-generation Ford Explorer SUV at the company's Chicago Assembly Plant beginning in the fourth quarter of this year.

Ford is investing nearly $400 million in its Chicago manufacturing facilities to launch production of the new, fuel-efficient Ford Explorer. The company also will add 1,200 new jobs to staff a second production shift at Chicago Assembly Plant and increase production at the nearby Chicago Stamping Plant.

The next-generation Explorer will be built at the Chicago Assembly Plant on a flexible assembly line alongside the new Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS sedans. Ford's $400 million investment includes approximately $180 million in manufacturing investment at the Chicago sites and about $220 million for launch and engineering costs. In addition, Ford will be making significant investment in supplier tooling to support next-generation Explorer production.

"The new Explorer will redefine the SUV for the modern era – retaining the capability customers want while delivering superb fuel efficiency, comfort and convenience," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. "This investment underscores Ford's commitment to building world-class, fuel-efficient vehicles in America and creating new jobs that will contribute to our nation's economic recovery."

The new Explorer will deliver at least 25 percent better fuel economy than the current model. The vehicle will feature unibody construction, Ford's EcoBoost engine technology, a six-speed transmission and lightweight materials. Ford will provide full details about the new Explorer later this year.

In addition, the next-generation Explorer will debut the auto industry's first-ever production inflatable seat belts, designed to provide additional protection for rear-seat occupants – often children and older passengers who can be more vulnerable to head, chest and neck injuries. The inflatable rear seat belts spread crash forces over five times more area of the body than conventional seat belts, which helps to reduce pressure on the chest and to control head and neck motion for rear-seat passengers. Ford eventually plans to offer inflatable seat belt technology on other vehicles globally.

"Our Chicago Assembly Plant – with its excellent work force, lean and flexible manufacturing processes, and proud history of making great Ford vehicles – is the ideal choice for building the new Explorer," said Jim Tetreault, Ford vice president, North America Manufacturing. "The plant successfully has launched two new vehicles in the past two years and our Chicago employees consistently deliver with an eye on quality, efficiency and safety."

In planning for the company's future manufacturing presence in the state, Ford worked closely with Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who led an effort in passing legislation that allows Ford to participate in Illinois' Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) program, which provides tax incentives to businesses that commit to new investments and create or retain jobs in the state. This legislation allows Ford to participate in the EDGE program through payroll tax credits rather than corporate income taxes.

"Governor Quinn immediately understood the importance of helping Ford by proposing and passing legislation that provides us with an alternative way to claim and secure these important tax credits," Fields said. "We are grateful for his support of Ford and auto manufacturing in Illinois, and want to thank him for his leadership."

"The production of the new Ford Explorer will create 1,200 new jobs here in Illinois," said Gov. Quinn. "The Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax credit, which I put the full weight of my administration behind and signed into law in December, has provided much needed relief to our state's ailing automotive industry and the necessary incentives for one of our nation's leading car companies to stay in the Land of Lincoln."

Ford's investment of $400 million in Chicago-area manufacturing facilities and Explorer's fuel economy improvement of at least 25 percent is also supported by Ford's green partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy. Chicago Assembly Plant is one of 11 Ford facilities in the U.S. participating in the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentives Programinitiated by Congress and implemented by the Obama administration. The program is helping to develop advanced technology vehicles and strengthen American manufacturing across the country. Ford, Nissan, Tesla, Fisker and Tenneco are all participants in this initiative.

"Ford has been a major presence in our city since 1924 when it opened this plant to make the Model T," said Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. "The company has demonstrated its commitment to Chicago by spending millions of dollars to modernize the facility in recent years, and I want to thank the company for that commitment and for its faith in Chicago and its residents."

The current Explorer and Explorer Sport Trac models are built at the company's Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky. Shifting production of the next-generation Explorer to Chicago Assembly paves the way for Louisville Assembly to undergo transformation to a flexible, fuel-efficient small car plant from a truck-based SUV plant. Ford will begin producing new vehicles at Louisville Assembly based on its global C-car platform in 2011. The specific models will be named at a later date.

The Chicago Assembly Plant, opened in 1924, currently has approximately 1,200 employees working on one shift. Ford's Chicago Stamping Plant, which opened in 1956, has approximately 700 employees on two shifts. Opened in 1955, Louisville Assembly Plant has approximately 1,000 employees operating on one shift.

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Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

Ford is clearly slicing the CUV market pretty thinly with the Edge, Explorer, and Flex. I suspect there won't be a next-gen Flex. Then the mix would make sense: compact Escape (Kuga), midsize Edge, full-size Explorer (the only three-row seater in that group).

With the Grand C-Max coming to the US, it would make sense to see the next-gen S-Max come here as well, taking over the family hauler role of the Flex. Then the whole Ford family will have shifted down in size, as seems the inevitable trend right now.

Note that the BOF current-gen Explorer is outsold by the Edge, and barely outsells the slow-moving Flex. Toyota is prominently mulling whether it will develop another generation of the 4Runner. The midsize BOF SUV is a dying breed; people with serious towing needs will have to go with fullsize, old-style SUVs or pickups.

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

Absolutly. I agree 100% tbird. I have a '98 AWD 5.0L XLT and it is perfect. We didnt get it because we needed a Taurus wagon, we got it because we needed a combination of car comfort with truck-like abilities (towing, heavy snow/mud, etc). It does exactly what it is supposed to do, and I'd like my next Explorer to be the same- not a glorified station wagon.

Dont get me wrong, I dont mind the Flex, it is perfect at what it is supposed to be, but Ford doesnt need a Flex with a name that carries a reputation of being truck-based.

I think the Explorer should be redesigned and made into a true mid-size off roader. If you want an AWD family wagon, buy a Edge or Flex. If you want to go off roading and tow a boat, buy an Explorer 4x4. Thats the way it should be in my book. Maybe they could base the vehicle off the global Ranger platform. I think they sell something like what I'm talking about as the Everest in other countries. A true truck-like SUV, not a front wheel drive poser wagon.

Anonymous

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

I'm really sick of hearing people talk about how many jobs a new product will bring. They should really just focus on advertising the vehicle features and inovations. Focus on making a good product and the jobs will come.

Anonymous

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

Historically, the Explorer has always sold well after a major refreshing or redesign, and this will be no different. It will be comfotable and civilized enough to cater to the CUV crowd but will probably have considerably more off-road ability than the Edge/Flex in order to stand out.

Anonymous

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

I'm pretty sure it will debut at the Chicago Auto Show. On a side note, Honda is going to debut the next-gen Honda Odyssey Prototype at the Chicago auto show. odd cause i have not seen any spyshots of the next-gen odyssey.

Anonymous

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

Why do they need this and the Flex.now i know the Flex is a "niche" vehicle, but i think that this is not the segment where niche vehicle sales will flourish. I want to see how close this is priced to the flex and the ensuing sales battle between the two models. They should have made this a bit longer to become the first unibody competitor to the Tahoe, effectively replacing the "old world" expedition.

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

Flex is more of a re interpretation of a minivan where as the new Explorer is a cross over/SUV pretender.Both are based on Taurus platform.Just like a Pilot and Odyssey are based on the Accord platform.Tahoe/Suburban competitor should be an F150 based BOF SUV(Expedition replacement) but wonder there ever will be one.

Anonymous

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

"Why do they need this and the Flex.now i know the Flex is a "niche" vehicle, but i think that this is not the segment where niche vehicle sales will flourish. I want to see how close this is priced to the flex and the ensuing sales battle between the two models. They should have made this a bit longer to become the first unibody competitor to the Tahoe, effectively replacing the "old world" expedition."-priymedh

@priymedh The Explorer is supposed to be a smaller SUV (mid-size) compared to the larger Flex crossover.Its also meant to be slightly more "SUV-like" than the Flex.

Making the Explorer longer would only bring it closer to the Flex.

PS: The Ford Flex is only 4.7 inches shorter than the standard length Expedition.

Anonymous

5 Years Ago

Glad to see a new American model coming out to create U.S. jobs. Now if everyone would be a "Good American Citizen" and drive our badged brands maybe we can help save our own economy instead of stimulating Japan's continuing growth. Be American, be proud, and show it with what you drive!